If done right, it’s not that difficult to find a way to win in Major League Soccer. All too often MLS Clubs have been infatuated with signing foreign players who  are past their prime or have been out of form in their most recent club stops. Some of these concerns were articulated about Darren Huckerby a player whose differences with Norwich manager Glen Roeder led to the club parting ways with a player who had done so much for the Canaries. I of course as longtime Manchester City supporter wanted to see Darren Huckerby play his club football stateside regardless of whether he was in fact washed up.

Several weeks later Darren Huckerby has arguably made the biggest impact of any Summer transfer window signing in MLS. Unlike many English players before him including Steve Guppy, Chris Woods and Steve Howey, Huckerby seemed to fit right into MLS. The style of play and tactical acumen of MLS is completely different than the English Championship or Premier League. Yet Huckerby playing out wide on the left side for San Jose has seemingly fit right into MLS.  Not only has he fit right in but his enthusiasm for footballhas been contagious. San Jose now looks like a spirited team, not the bunch that was playing for consistent nill nill scorelines earlier in the season. The injury to Ramiro Corrales whose experience and leadership helped keep San Jose afloat could have ended the Earthquakes season. But Saturday night’s superb game winner from Huckerby and the fiery leadership he has shown especially since Corrales injury means that the Quakes have perhaps the gretaest X-factor and on the pitch general MLS has to offer.